Part-time living on Schouwen-Duiveland Ð A research to improve the living

Seasonal fluctuation and a declining population have a negative impact on an area. The graduation project of Nescio Midavaine researched the possibilities for part-time living in an area which faces a (coming) declining population and seasonal fluctuation. A part-time resident, is someone who weekly lives and works in a (surrounding) city and live a few days in a peripheral area like Schouwen-Duiveland. Within the research 15 in-depth interviews under part-time residents on Schouwen-Duiveland are taken and analyzed. These part-time residents are living in second homes, recreational homes and caravans. The data from the interviews where compared with the characteristics of the researched area by a SWOT-analyze. For that a separation in spatial-, functional- and legal conditions was made. The research shows that an area like Schouwen-Duiveland can anticipate on a (coming) declining population and seasonal fluctuation by facilitating part-time living. Due to the characteristics of the housing market of Schouwen-Duiveland possibilities for part-time living are almost only accessible for wealthy people and therefore mostly elderly (50-64 years). Part-time residents on Schouwen-Duiveland state that for part-time residents like adults (30-49 years) the supply of appropriate dwellings within their financial reachability is not sufficient. Beside new concepts to attract adults there also has to be a focus on market broadening.